Lewis Family | Morse Department of Special Collections

1910 John M. Lewis starts the Alfalfa Lawn Farm (ALF) herd with one bull and ten cows (Lewis came to Kansas from Illinois in 1909 because of his interest in farming alfalfa).

1912 Walter Lewis born.

1931Walter Lewis graduates from Larned (KS) High School.

1935 Walter Lewis graduates from Kansas State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Husbandry. John Lewis turns breeding of herd over to Walter; Joe, John’s other son, became involved with ALF at later date.

1937 Francis Lewis (then Francis Aicher) graduates from KSU.

1938 Walter and Francis married

1939 Robert Lewis born to Walter and Francis (KSU class of 1961).

1941 Martha Lewis born to Walter and Francis (KSU class of 1963).

1953 Walter judges Polled Herefords at Royal Easter Show in Sydney, Australia.

1953-61 Walter serves as Director of the American Hereford Association, Kansas City.

1955-68 Walter is official beef judge for Intercollegiate Livestock judging contest at the International Livestock Show, Chicago, Illinois.

1967 Walter elected Vice-President of the American Polled Hereford Association.

1968 Walter successfully lobbies to keep the American Polled Herford Association in the World Conference President of the American Polled Hereford Association (only breeder to ever be president of both this organization and the American Hereford Association. Delegate to the World Hereford Conference in Sydney, Australia.

1969 Walter judges at the Regina Bull Show in Canada and the National Polled Hereford Show of England. Martha Lewis graduates with a Ph.D. from Penn. State University. John Lewis (Walter and Joe’s father) dies.

1971-72 Walter a member of the Livestock and Meat Industry Council, Manhattan, KS